Reflecting on the History of Three Important Cultivars in Pecan Breeding
Winter is a time of reflection on the past and our dreams for the future. In this pensive season, I’ve been spending time reviewing how different cultivars have been used throughout the history of the USDA Pecan Breeding and Genetics Program. As I look at which cultivars have been used for breeding improved pecans, three...
Read more
Pecan bacterial leaf scorch is transmitted from pecan nuts to rootstock
Pecan bacterial leaf scorch is caused by the bacteria, Xylella fastidiosa, a plant pathogen that can infect at least 655 different plant species. Pecan bacterial leaf scorch (PBLS) is a chronic disease that can occur year after year and cause significant disease symptoms in susceptible cultivars. The disease is widespread across the southern pecan-growing region...
Read more
Supply chain woes and the pecan industry
The term “supply chain” describes the organization of participants that produce, process, and distribute goods to consumers. Supply chains, especially those associated with food and fiber, have seen increased interest over the last several years and even more in the last several months. Many factors, including weather-related issues, issues associated with the COVID-19 global pandemic,...
Read more
A Quality Assurance Program and You
Consumers now more than ever are looking for further knowledge about their food. Food safety is a global expectation to do business, but that expectation has shifted to include sustainability as well. Customers want to know the company and people behind their food, understand its employee safety protocols, see the chemicals used when growing the...
Read more
Change management in the pecan industry
The agri-food industry, including pecans, is constantly changing. Changes come in the form of new system implementations, government regulations, and new technologies that have evolved throughout the supply chain. For organizations to embrace and align with these changes, it often means a new way of doing things and a behavior change for employees at all...
Read more
July 2021 Position Report shows declining inventory, steady exports
Giving insight into U.S. handlers’ recent movements, the American Pecan Council published its July 2021 Pecan Industry Position Report at the end of August. This report provided data on pecan exports, inventory, and availability for the current crop year while hinting at the state of the pecan market. The Federal Marketing Order requires U.S. handlers...
Read more
May 2021 Position Report shows pecans on the move
As eligible pecan growers across the United States cast their votes on the FMO, the American Pecan Council published its April and May 2021 Pecan Industry Position Reports over the last week. These most recent reports provide data on exports, inventory, and availability for the 2020/2021 crop year and add context to the current pecan...
Read more
January 2021 Position Report Shows Post-Holiday Slump
The American Pecan Council published the January 2021 Pecan Industry Position Report at the end of February, adding further context to a turbulent crop year and providing data on exports, inventory, and availability. With harvest complete, pecan producers in the Northern Hemisphere prepare their orchards and businesses for the next crop. Hedging, planting new trees,...
Read more
October Position Report Shows More Pecans Available, Greater Inventory
Published last Wednesday, the October 2020 Pecan Industry Position Report from American Pecan Council edifies industry members on exports, inventory, and availability during a turbulent market year. At this time, pecan growers in the Northern Hemisphere are deep into harvest. Many finished shaking trees before Thanksgiving, while some wrap up their final rounds in early...
Read more
Early Season Pecan Inventory Data Shows Rise and Fall
The American Pecan Council released its Year-End Inventory Report for the 2019 Crop Year alongside the Pecan Industry Position Report for September 2020 several weeks ago. These most recent pecan reports provide data on U.S. handlers’ inventory and shipments at the start of the 2020 harvest season. Amidst the ongoing battles against the coronavirus, pecan...
Read more
Overview of the Pecan Industry & Big Data Stakeholders
Conducting market research in the pecan industry can be challenging due to the lack of data accuracy in reported changes across sales, shipments, and prices. Due to the complexity of the export supply chains between Mexico and the United States, the pecan market activity officially reported in North America presents statistical deficiencies when monitoring supply...
Read more
New Industry Data Shows More Pecans on the Move
American Pecan Council released its May 2020 Pecan Position Report at the end of June. This most recent report continues to reflect months of significant change as the coronavirus spread across the globe and many countries begin to exit lockdowns. At the same time, when compared to last year’s numbers, this report illustrates a year...
Read more
The Role of Social Influence on Pecan Trial Willingness in China
In this issue of Pecan South, we continue our discussion of the factors that drive pecan trial willingness and consumption in China. We specifically discuss the impact of national culture on social influences and how they in turn impact trial willingness as it relates to pecans. While the importance of these relationships is well established...
Read more
APC’s February Position Report Shows Early Effects of COVID-19 & Offers Hope
Released the week of March 23, the American Pecan Council’s February 2020 Pecan Industry Position Report provides insight into pecans’ movement throughout February and also shows the early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While northern hemisphere growers spot their first buds and producers in the southern hemisphere enter the final phase of nut development, industry...
Read moreTrade Wars Explained
For the last several months, one of the most contentious topics in the morning news, on social media, and around the table in my local coffee shop has been the trade war with China. Most days I can keep my mouth shut and just listen, but recently I feel compelled to educate readers on the...
Read more
Speaking of Family Trees…
New tools will help us understand and use some of our old favorite cultivars more efficiently. I had the chance to judge the Pecan Show in Brenham on Nov. 20, 2019. Kara Matheney, Washington County Extension Agent, and her Pecan Committee did a good job bringing in samples from Washington and Austin Counties in an...
Read more
Boom & Bust: Being Tax Savvy With the Highs and Lows of Pecan Farming
The ups and downs of running a farm operation are relentless. In some years, prices are right, pecans are plentiful, and income is good. However, it can take a nasty turn for the worst in a heartbeat. The “bad” thing about a good year is the potentially high tax bill. The “good” thing about a...
Read more
What’s Around the Bend for Industry Data and Analytics
The summer months have been eventful for the American Pecan Council (APC). Committee meetings took place at the end of July, the second Pecan Congress met on Aug. 20, and the APC General Council Meeting followed on Aug. 21. Thank you to those of you who joined us at either or both these events! The...
Read more
Family Trees: Generations & Propagations
Time gets divided into generations in our families and the social context of our culture. Some generational generalizations (Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials, Gen Z) are media hype, but some patterns are appropriate to recognize to maintain what functions well in our communities. The culture of trees carries the previous generations’ fingerprints in the even-aged...
Read moreThe 101 Series: How the APC Measures Success
The passage of the Federal Marketing Order (FMO) was a tremendous step forward for the American pecan industry and one that has created unprecedented marketing opportunities for all members of our industry. The American Pecan Council is committed to making the most effective use of industry funds as we continue to build momentum for American...
Read moreThe 101 Series: Transaction Models 101
Upon the completion of the American Pecan Council’s Strategic Planning Process, the APC with the help of the Boston Consulting Group identified five main areas of change and opportunity for the pecan industry. Although all five are vital to the success of the industry, one component—“the need to modernize transactions”—continues to receive the most questions....
Read more
Effective Marketing Begins with Good Research
August Busch Jr. of Anheuser-Busch is credited for having once said that he knew that over half of his advertising dollars were wasted. He then went on to say that while he hated wasting money no one could tell him which half of his advertising dollars were wasted and that he had no alternative but...
Read more
The 101 Series: Unifying the Industry & the Beginning of Change 101
A life and career in agriculture are fraught with uncertainty, going through periods of highs and lows depending on weather patterns, regulatory changes, and trade and market conditions, among other factors. For the pecan industry, 2018 was particularly challenging, as we faced hurricanes, floods, and droughts, not to mention an international trade war and falling...
Read morePecan Production and Market Trends in China
The U.S. pecan industry has experienced dramatic changes over the last five years. Some of these changes, like the development of the American Pecan Council, have been good, while others like the recent hurricanes that decimated many pecan orchards throughout the South have come at a terrible price. Unfortunately, change is a fact of life...
Read moreOptimize your profit, not your price
One of the most difficult aspects of running a successful business is determining how to market and price your product. Do you adopt a retail mentality with a one price policy, selling all of your crop to retail customers? Do you adopt a multitier pricing strategy and sell part of your crop to retail customers,...
Read more
Part 2—Exploring the National Marketing Campaign, Q&A with the APC
The American Pecan Council launched pecans’ national brand and congruent marketing campaign just a little over five months ago. Since then, “The Original Supernut” has made appearances on “Good Morning America,” been featured in numerous national publications, and been promoted by food bloggers, dietitians, and influencers. But if you’re not looking for it, the marketing campaign...
Read more
Challenges for the Expanding Pecan Industry in China
China has been the No. 1 importer for the pecan market since 2000, and import levels, in general, have shown a consistent upward trend since that time. Shipments to China accounted for 51 percent in 2017 of all American pecan exports compared to 44 percent in 2016. In recent years, pecan planting has boomed in...
Read more
Labor Problems & Solutions—How Some Growers Solved their Labor Puzzle
It goes like this. Troy Swift has 45 acres of productive pecan trees. He needs workers for harvest. He hires someone. This person shows up the first day, but maybe they don’t show up the next. Or they have personal or family problems that start to affect their work. Or maybe they are lazy and...
Read more
Potential climate change impacts on pecans in the West
Climate change refers to any shift in temperature, precipitation or wind. The change can be of short duration, but more commonly refers to long-term shifts that may persist for decades or longer. Historically, climate has changed gradually over thousands of years. However, recent changes have been abrupt and tied to anthropogenic factors, including deforestation and...
Read moreBack door to China – A China/Vietnam trade mission
The U.S. pecan industry was invited to attend a seminar and tour of the newly created “free trade zones” on the China and Vietnam border. The tour was held on July 10-12, 2013, in Nanning, China. The commercial trade zones were developed as a result of a 2010 trade agreement (ASEAN) between China, Vietnam and...
Read moreAn overview of the 2012/2013 pecan market
Unlike the almond, walnut and pistachio industries where 60 to 70 percent of their production is exported, until 2007, pecans were primarily consumed in North America. Supplies were sufficient to supply the North American market and a limited amount of export. Growers had little choice as to where they could sell their production and the...
Read moreConsumer trends — ‘Nouveau Snacking’ on the rise
Consumers are snacking much more frequently. According to Technomic Inc.’s 2012 Snacking Occasion Consumer Trend Report, about half (48 percent) of the population snacks at least twice a day, double the 2010 level of 25 percent. Seven in 10 snacks are eaten in the home, reports Technomic. Fresh fruit, crackers/cookies, cereal, potato chips/pretzels, ice cream, and...
Read more
Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: Government Reporting Errors Impact Pecan Industry
Mark Twain once said that there are 3 kinds of lies: “There are lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Used by many but understood by few, no one can stay in business very long, or expect to be very successful, without good statistics. They are critical to every segment of the pecan industry. Yet for years,...
Read moreCold Storage Pecans Total 240 Million Pounds
Pecans in cold storage totaled 240.5 million pounds, inshell basis, as of March 31, according to USDA’s most recent cold storage report. That number compares to 201 million pounds, inshell basis, for the same date a year ago. A month earlier, Feb. 29, 2012, cold storage pecan stocks had been 227 million pounds, inshell basis....
Read moreTough to Treat Pecan Insects This Year!
This has been one of those years to top all years for Texas agriculture. Most commodities are enjoying a time of all-time-high prices but here in Texas few producers are able to take full advantage of the increased value. Unseasonably high temperatures throughout the spring and summer combined with the lingering effects of drought and...
Read morePecan Culture – Observations and Uncertainties
After more than 30 years of growing pecans in Osage County, Oklahoma, I have discovered that the more I learned about pecan culture, the more I found out that I didn’t know. Such is the case with many subjects! My orchard is about 10 miles east of Ponca City, Oklahoma. I purchased the land in...
Read more